How to Lay Concrete in Cold Weather

Pouring concrete at any time requires care and attention, but doing so in cold weather means there’s other factors that need to be taken into account if the pouring project is to be a success. In this article, we will be detailing the ways you can ensure that your cold-weather concrete pour goes smoothly.

Schedule the concrete delivery in advance

Cold weather can cause havoc on the roads, and there’s nothing worse than a project being delayed because a delivery is held up by traffic. Make sure your concrete delivery is scheduled in good time – being organised will only serve you well in the colder months, and getting your concrete on time will help you avoid any last minute transportation issues.

Wear the right clothing for winter

The right clothing is important for two reasons: it will help keep you warm in the cold weather, and it will also protect you from damage to skin that can occur when coming into contact with wet concrete. Wear plenty of layers, and make sure to wear protective gloves and goggles if you’re handling the concrete yourself.

Do not pour on frozen ground

Pouring concrete on frozen ground will cause the fresh concrete to freeze if the temperature is below -4°c. Concrete companies can include hot water in their mixes to raise the temperature of the concrete, preventing it from freezing upon contact with the ground. As well as hot water, you can use portable heaters on the ground to thaw the surface and make it more accommodating for your concrete before you pour it.

Use the right concrete grade

Using the right grade of concrete is crucial to the success of the project, especially if it’s ready mix concrete. A winter mix of ingredients is required for a cold-weather pour, including accelerants to speed up the curing and setting of the concrete, warm water for the mix and avoiding ingredients such as slag or fly ash.

Have help where possible

The more people you have on hand to help you, the quicker the project will be, and the quicker the project is, the less time there is for the concrete to potentially freeze and disrupt the process. This is particularly pertinent to offloading the concrete from the truck.

As you can see, there are a number of precautions to take when carrying out a concrete pour in cold weather. If you follow these tips, you’re much more likely to avoid any mishaps due to frosty weather, and your concrete project will progress as you’d hoped.